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Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu talks with Alan about the pressure and hardships she faced as a young gymnast.
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You you're awfully play hard on Philip -- in this book give you in any reaction from him.
As result of what your room.
And not that -- -- there's only been really one statement.
That was me and that's about it that they haven't reached out to me or anything like that but sounds.
-- that's about it.
-- he was abusive to.
Yes the crow broke me down so much emotionally during my training that they do -- childhood loves that I had for the sport of gymnastics right out of me and that's heavy because there is that this sport.
That want to -- me so happy they frequently used -- calling it an act and being a fourteen year old being can be Easter red balloon in fact -- leaky.
Any -- we're not terms of endearment.
Because they used them whenever they felt that I gained weight -- humiliation the technique they used frequently in either on pre pubescent teenage.
Yeah ahead of the other girls react.
I am I got a few.
Attacks from my former teammates and they are positive and they are excited about my reunion with my sister and and -- gotten a lot of feedback from.
To people all over Twitter and FaceBook and friends and family and things like that are very you know very happy that I -- all of these.
Lemon at the time the other gymnast that they were treated the same way by bella I would present and they did they react to him much as you -- -- everybody has you know a different reaction and -- different.
A different experience in the gym depending on.
I mean I saw the treatment would -- other athletes but how everyone chooses -- acted.
And also how they choose to talk about it is really at their own kind.
Everybody heals differently.
Some people are not ready to talk about things that happen because they were traumatized.
I think in your life -- have to be -- balanced play and be able to handle.
All of that -- -- that happened team and it takes years sometimes to come out.
-- ephemeral but in the UN hide injuries from Ameren.
Yes there or.
Open lines of communication when -- injury.
We're not.
Term we're not positive they they didn't want you talk about.
Anything bothering you are hurting use so what we -- -- it was we hit -- injuries we -- we didn't want to.
Bombshell any sign of weakness because this week that something was injured.
Then they would use it against that than they want your faking it or you're being lazy and at instead of nurturing coach who would come in.
Protect and make sure that there's safety in in the athletes' emotional and physical -- -- placed first and foremost.
This we're not the case for Iraq and they had -- win at all cost mentality and it didn't matter what happened to the athletes -- The first time I realized that -- -- true commodity.
Was when they handed me at the Olympic Games with no good I know good luck in life and speculation.
-- -- Absolutely.
By -- like game that was very hurtful for fourteen year old.
Very very difficult -- me emotionally to realize it.
That I was if that means to an end.
When you -- war or doing your routines and well how much of what was going to your mind was fear that if you messed -- you would be punished.
Absolutely there are times when I was training with the Crowley is that any time that -- -- major mistake in competition I see here.
I think you're punishment they feared that they would tell my parents that.
I I'm not only -- which they probably thought they are in the audience but they would also.
Magnify it didn't say you know well that -- make it even worse ten times alert.
On they would use my father as a medium of abuse than they would call and -- and again they would threaten me.
To call hand it pilot but performing up to their standards and they knew that he -- -- physical punishment I think that's a horrible thing to do to a child and someone who looks up to their coaches and -- very vulnerable at pre pubescent teenager.
And it's very very difficult for me at.
To understand why people that supposedly cared about one immediately well -- -- sport could use this unique it is so harmful.
Did that drive me though to be a better athlete who would you have been even better.
Had you not had to put up -- that kind of abusive behavior.
I think I would've been better -- I really you think being you know it's something I've thought about for many many years and I know how much -- blossomed with an eye over twenty coaches that I had they've had influence in my life and I I tactics that was nearly all of them.
That.
And that's -- -- that speaks volumes because most of the time you know stated.
There's such inconsistency in a revolving door of coaches throughout your life.
That's very difficult to achieve success because just that you're getting to know one -- you are.
You know switching to another one and you're changing the methodology you're changing a lot but he's and it's very unstable.
In the didn't -- a lot of girls -- cannot peak during those times but I continuously tactics that.
And I think that that just speaks to that talent -- the hard work that I had the work ethic I had in me.
The other part of your story -- so amazing.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Not knowing she was your sister your biological sister.
Idolize you.
And from afar.
Became an athlete herself and did so in spite of the fact -- Linux.
Absolutely you know what I love.
About Janet her point of view her optimism her enthusiasm for -- she lived in no excuses in life and I loved that.
We all have theory here -- some physical some emotional but tension is not to acknowledge any of them.
And that's -- proud to column my sister she's issued an incredible human being.
Then it's amazing that you were able to find each other.
I absolutely it's certainly a study of nature vs nurture and I remember her telling me in sharing stories with me that when I was little if you would tell me.
I used to tell my parents that we we're sisters and they already you know but hey wait until I was sixteen to -- -- but.
She would watch TV and -- John Sweeney on TV.
And yet did know she was -- letter to.
She had no idea but her people are always meal and they waited for the right time to talent but she would say mommy daddy -- -- -- comedian.
And don't we look like this.
Would just kind of quietly look at each other and and they would be an -- that that connection that strong immune nurture there.
Why do you think there's a relationship between the culture of Romania and gymnasts then being gymnasts.
-- Accompany each certainly at this stage in 1976 Montreal a big gains where.
She was the icon for a media issue is does that -- symbol of hope fret that because she had accomplished so much.
Com at such a young -- -- -- was kind of the country's treasure.
And everything -- and gymnastics -- taken such pride.
In this sport and they've won so many Olympic medals it's.
It's just something that they are very proud because they can win a lot of medals in this sport and that's the expectations -- not economy can always been very -- remaining candidates back home.
Is -- about doing a movie of your book.
It's funny -- say that there's some words that are kind of kind of going around about it though.
Incredible story just as -- dinnertime and think about -- this is a movie.
You know -- it didn't happen that we wouldn't believe it.
-- that -- is in the movie and this whole connection just finding again and again finding then.
Did the story of our lives there and finally connecting but.
You add that gymnastics and Olympics and all of that and we got a Hollywood movies Christian or.
Well I wish you the best elect thank you very much for talking our audience about it's incredible story and -- solely down in the book off balance and Dionne thank you very much for your time tonight appreciate agreement.
Thank you so much for having --
